By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asia stocks at 7-mth highs after Wall Street cracks more records
- MSCI ex-Japan at highest since late January
- Australia, South Korea lead gains; Chinese shares in red
- Dollar at 27-mth low on easy monetary policy
- Fed meeting minutes awaited
- Brent down 26 cents at $45.20, Gold back above $2,000
Oil Markets
- Oil prices skid as concerns over US demand recovery seep through market
- API says US crude stocks fall 4.3 mln bbls, more than forecast
- OPEC+ ministerial panel meets later to review compliance on output cuts
- Brent down 0.8% at $45.08 a barrel (0029GMT)
- WTI down 0.6% at $42.64
Precious metals
- Gold inches higher as dollar extends fall; focus on Fed minutes
- Spot gold up 0.1% at $2,002.12/oz. (0029GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1% at $2,011.60/oz.
Grains
- Corn eases as US crop tour forecasts above-average yields
- Corn futures down 0.7% at $3.39-1/4 a bushel (0250GMT)
- Soybeans down 0.3% at $9.11 a bushel
- Wheat up 0.5% at $5.20 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Bank of Zambia decides interest rates [fcst. 9.25%, prev. 9.25%]
- Bank of Namibia decides interest rates [fcst. 3.75%, prev. 4.0%]
- OPEC+ ministers meet
- Kenya auctions 11-year infrastructure bond
- Ghana presidential frontrunners Akufo-Addo & Mahama tour regions
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- Kenya Senate adhoc committee meets on revenue allocation impasse; after passage failure for umpteenth time
- Kenya’s Kenyatta cabinet reshuffle back in focus; after cabinet et al. sent on compulsory leave
- Key African countries on lockdown or restricted; subdued economic activity
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Mali president resigns after detention by military, deepening crisis
- West Africa regional bloc closes borders with Mali after president detained
- Sudan ‘astonished’ at spokesman’s remarks about ‘contacts’ with Israel
- UN chief calls for immediate release of Mali president, others
- Mauritius arrests captain of stricken Japan oil tanker
- Plaintiffs in Sierra Leone diamond mine lawsuit request freeze of Steinmetz subisidiary’s assets
- Egypt passes law shielding sex crime victims’ identities
- Algeria to allow private banks, airlines, sea transport firms
- Mali protest movement seays detention of president “not a military coup”
- Mali state television channel goes offline after president detained
- Mali PM also detained by mutinying soldiers, African Union condemns
- Zimbabwe shortens coronavirus curfew, extends business hours
- South Africa smokers empty shops of cigarettes after ban lifted
- Sudan confirms ‘contacts’ with Israel, says UAE move is ‘brave’
- Faction of DR Congo rebel group surrenders after internal revolt
- France condemns mutiny in Mali – foreign minister
- Ethiopia PM fires defence minister, a one-time ally, in major reshuffle
- Dozens of Kenya doctors strike over lack of PPE, delayed pay
- Nigeria’s long-awaited oil reform bill to go to president – sources
- Ivanhoe Mines & China’s CNMC announce Africa partnership
- Namibia warns about elephant dung cure for coronavirus as cases rise
- Sudan, major rebel group sign deal to integrate rebels into army
- Egypt bank Beltone diversifies in hunt for profitability
- From Africa to America, businesses and insures face survival showdowns
- Overfishing in Congo threatens endangered sharks, report warns
- Mauritius oil clean-up team turns focus from sea to mangroves
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters